Treatment Guidelines for HIV

The Government of India launched the free Antiretroviral Therapy (ART) initiative in April
2004 across 6 high prevalent states and the National Capital Territory (NCT) of Delhi. Since
then, there has been a massive scale-up and decentralization of ART services with the aim
to have universal access to life-saving ART for all people living with HIV (PLHIV) in need.
There have been major innovations in the National AIDS Control Programme (NACP) in the
last two years to improve the access to ART and strengthen service delivery across
geographies. Some of these innovations include Dolutegravir (DTG) transition, viral load
monitoring, advanced disease management, rapid ART initiation and implementation of
differentiated care models. These recent changes in the program necessitated the
development of a uniform and standardized National Guidelines for HIV care and Treatment
2021. In this new consolidated National Guidelines for HIV care and Treatment 2021,
National AIDS Control Organization (NACO) brings together all existing national
recommendations and updates existing guidance.
The National Guidelines for HIV care and Treatment 2021 was thoroughly reviewed by
clinical experts and practitioners and program managers prior to publication. The National
Guidelines for HIV care and Treatment 2021 provides a comprehensive set of
recommendations for HIV management in adults and children geared to achieve the 95-95-
95 targets by 2030. The guidelines are primarily intended for medical officers of ART centers
across the country and the clinicians in the public or the private sectors who tend to provide
services to the people living with HIV (PLHIV). These guidelines are intended to be a
reference manual, and a resource to educate heath care workers when providing health
services to the PLHIV. It can also be used for in-service health provider education and
training, as a source of up-to-date, evidence-based recommendations, and as a self-
education tool for health care providers on the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of
HIV/AIDS. The target audience for this document also includes policy makers and other
health care staff, HIV program managers, technical agencies, donors and implementing
partners supporting the National AIDS Control Programme at all levels.